Drew Barrymore is one of the few child actors who are still going strong, years after their rise to fame. The world first got to meet Barrymore in her full element in the Steven Spielberg directed E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, where she played the role of Gertie Taylor, Elliott (Henry Thomas) and Michael’s (Robert MacNaughton) youngest sibling.
Asked what it was like working with Steven Spielberg, a seven-year-old Barrymore told Entertainment Tonight, “ It was really fun and I enjoyed working on E.T.” Barrymore was keen on making more movies, even back then, at least to keep the family tradition alive. A lot of life has happened since, and here’s a recap of how much she has evolved.
9 A Downward Spiral
At first, Barrymore was the adorable seven-year-old who found fame in E.T. When she turned nine, however, things took a turn for the worst. Barrymore had her first taste of alcohol and took a liking to the bottle. Her first drink, she said, was such a scary feeling, yet it provided an escape from the reality she was living. At 11, Barrymore started taking drugs after influence by people she thought were friends at the time.
8 Life In A Psychiatry Hospital
When she was 13, Drew Barrymore’s mother put her in a place she describes as a ‘full psychiatric ward.’ “ You couldn’t mess around in there, and if you did, you’d get put in stretcher restraints and tied up,” Barrymore said of the institution. Barrymore, in an interview with Howard Stern, revealed how much of a rebel she was during the period, to the extent of rallying the girls against the institution. Although she hated the place at first, when she left, she was the most humble she’s ever been.
7 Emancipation From Her Mother
When Barrymore was 14, she had a date in court with her mom, where she decided to free herself legally. She also lived with David Crosby for two months and got to go on tour with his band. This was after she’d spent a year and a half at the psychiatric institution. Barrymore credits the institution for helping with the emancipation program and giving her a start of her own.
6 Breaking The Addiction Cycle
Barrymore grew up with addiction around her. To an extent, she thought it was normal. Those around her who struggled with addiction did not only include friends, but family as well. Drew’s mother had to kick her dad out of the home because of his addiction to drugs. Barrymore was lucky to get drugs out of her system fast, but her journey is something she terms unorthodox.
5 Making More Movies
After playing little Gertie, Barrymore’s roles evolved over the years. She played teenage rebels for a while and transitioned to mum roles when she got much older. In a way, she's upheld the family’s acting legacy. Luck had it that she would make some solid friendships in the industry, most notable of which is the one she has with Adam Sandler, with whom she has made a lot of movies. Barrymore has also been on the receiving end of a rom-com fan feud with Jennifer Aniston.
4 Getting Married, And Divorced
Barrymore has been married thrice. Her first union with Jeremy Thomas was in 1994, and only lasted a period of two months. Six years later, Barrymore would get married to comedian Tom Greene. Prior to that, Barrymore had a crush on Green. “ I like him because I got his sense of humor,” Barrymore told 60 Minutes Australia. She and Green divorced in 2002, and it wasn’t until ten years later that Barrymore decided to get married again. This time to Will Kopelman. Although she really wanted it to work, it did not.
3 Becoming A Parent
Barrymore, in reference to the kind of parenting she received, said of her mother, “I think she created a monster. This was her monster.” When it came to parenting her own children, she went the complete opposite way. Barrymore has two children, both from her third marriage. Olive Barrymore Kopelman was born in 2012, while Frankie Barrymore Kopelman was born in 2014. Barrymore keeps her children off of social media and has found them a great step-mother in Kopelman’s new partner.
2 Running A Production Company
In 1995, Barrymore co-founded Flower Films with Nancy Juvonen. The production company has brought us some of our favorite movies, including 2016’s How to Be Single, starring Dakota Johnson and Rebel Wilson, He’s Just Not That Into You, 50 First Dates, and Never Been Kissed. On television, Flower Films has had a hand in shows such as Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place To Start, Tough Love Couples, and Drew Barrymore’s own talk show.
1 Hosting A Talk Show
Barrymore has made a name for herself as an actress. What no one saw coming was her transition into television that has been well received. The Drew Barrymore Show has run in syndication since 2020, and managed two seasons so far. Through the show, Barrymore discusses everything from parenting to the lessons she’s learned about life. Most notable, however, was her reunion with ex Tom Green after fifteen years apart.
